Cory Booker Coy About VP Vetting, Directs Questions To Clinton Campaign
Cory Booker hasn’t completely admitted to being vetted as a potential vice presidential nominee for Hillary Clinton, but the New Jersey senator has stirred the pot by directing questions to the Clinton campaign about the possibility.
Cory Booker sort of confirms vice presidential vetting by Clinton campaign https://t.co/DDfIjnVZ1d pic.twitter.com/F6eVhBvdxs
— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) July 4, 2016
During an interview Sunday morning with CNN’s Brianna Keilar during State of the Union, he was asked if he was being vetted as a VP, but Booker deflected the question, leaving his answer up for interpretation.
“I’m just referring questions about the vice presidency to the woman that’s going to have to make this decision. You should talk to the Hillary Clinton campaign. What I do know is that on the Democratic side, there are many fabulous candidates — people that could be really strong vice presidential candidates.”
In the past, Booker flat-out denied being vetted by the Clinton campaign. As a matter of fact, Booker denied being vetted just two weeks ago.
CNN also reports last month Booker told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, “It’s flattering and everything like that, but I’m not being vetted.”
According to CBS New York and various other sources, Democrats might not want Senator Booker as Clinton’s VP because that would leave New Jersey’s Republican governor, Chris Christie, to choose a replacement. Democrats are hopeful about winning the majority in the Senate, but that wouldn’t be likely since Christie would be sure to choose a Republican to replace Booker.
At the same time, Cory Booker is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, and some believe he would bring great energy to Clinton’s campaign.
Cory Booker: I’m referring questions about the VP job to the Clinton campaign https://t.co/xy1ZuFqXXI #CNNSOTU https://t.co/6s9hRRiCVM
— CNN (@CNN) July 3, 2016
A few of the other names being tossed around as possible candidates for Clinton’s VP besides Cory Booker including Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro.
During State of the Union, Booker was also asked whether he thinks Clinton will be formally charged with a federal crime in connection with her email use when she worked in the State Department.
“That’s just not going to happen. I think this is something that’s just routine and we’re going to be seeing an investigation closing up. And I think that she, like most Americans, want this thing concluded so we can move beyond it and focus on the real issues of this campaign.”
While questions were raised last week when Bill Clinton met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Booker said Lynch did nothing wrong because their talk had nothing to do with the case. Booker said the two talked about “golf and grandchildren” which “in no way undermined this investigation.”
Booker added Bill Clinton is “probably one of the friendliest people on the planet Earth.”
Booker believes anyone who reads more into the meeting are “whipping up conspiracy theories” that voters aren’t interested in and which detract from the real issues.
It was a busy Sunday morning for Booker. Booker also came out swinging against presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, calling him a dangerous man to the country and planet as well as stating he’s unfit to be president.
“This is somebody that’s a danger, not only to our country but his recklessness, his disregard, demeaning and degrading of other individuals, will put this planet in peril. This is a dangerous man. I have heard what’s come out of his mouth.”
Share your thoughts below on whether you believe Cory Booker is being vetted as Clinton’s VP or not and why.
[Photo by Larry French/Getty Images]
